Puritan swabs for flu testing are well-known by kit manufacturers and practitioners.  As flu and COVID-19 are both ILIs (influenza-like illnesses) the specimen collection swab used to confirm them can be one and the same. 

There are a couple of sampling devices most commonly used for this testing, whether rapid or traditional.  They are either a small tip/flexible handle flock swab, Puritan UltraFlock #25-3317-U, to collect a nasopharyngeal specimen, or a standard foam-tipped swab, Puritan #25-1506 1PF, to collect a nasal swab. 

Spun polyester is also used, like Puritan’s # 25-806 1PD for nasal or oropharyngeal sampling.  And yes, tests for COVID-19 use the same devices.  When testing for flu or COVID-19, or selecting a combo test, you can rely on these swabs to detect either or both.  

Reliability and consistent quality are essential.  The properties most important to specimen collection, regardless of the target illness, are the capacity to gather ample material and then to release it completely and efficiently.   Patient comfort and operator ease of use are also important, especially for this widespread testing initiative we see in the COVID-19 response. 

Whether the test utilizes a flock swab, a foam-tipped swab or a spun polyester tip swab, specimen collection reliability is assured with a swab from Puritan.